Bend’s Eaton Could Grab One Record — Or Two

Central Oregon native Ashton Eaton was on pace Saturday after nine of the 10 decathlon events to break Dan O’Brien’s 20-year-old American record and still had a chance at the world record, as well.

The last race was the 1,500 meters, to be aired live (on West Coast, tape-delayed) on NBC at 8 p.m.

Meanwhile,Tyson Gay eased through his first 100-meter qualifying heat in the U.S. Olympic trials Saturday, winning in 10 seconds flat.

Gay, mending from a hip injury that kept him out of action for most of the past year, matched the time he ran in his return in New York earlier this month. That race was into a headwind. This time, on a rainy day in Eugene, he had a slight tailwind.

Justin Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion, won his heat in 9.90 seconds, keeping alive his bid to return to the Olympics after missing 2008 because of a doping ban.

Reigning Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bryan Clay won’t defend his title in London after he stumbled in the 110-meter hurdles.

Clay was disqualified after missing the final hurdle. That took him out of the running for a top-three finish in the decathlon for a spot on the Olympic team.

Clay had finished in 16.81 seconds, last in the field.

Clay was the gold medalist in the Beijing Games, becoming the first American to win the multi-event since Dan O’Brien in 1996.

After seven events, Eaton led the decathlon with 6,464 points, followed by reigning world champion Trey Hardee with 6,269 points.

On Friday, when track and field celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first Olympic decathlon, former Ducks star Eaton set records in the event.

Then again, the damp and dreary conditions at the Olympic trials Friday night were his type of weather.

Eaton?s leap of 27 feet in the long jump was a world record in the decathlon, as was his sprint of 10.21 seconds in the 100 meters.

After five events on Friday, Eaton led the decathlon with 4,728 points, a total that was 17 points ahead of Dan O?Brien?s pace when he set the American record in 1992.

Trey Hardee was second with 4,406 points and defending Olympic gold medalist Bryan Clay had 4,252 points.

Eaton didn?t speak much after completing the 400 in a downpour, except to thank all his friends and family for helping him get this far.

But as he was walking off, a reporter asked if he was surprised with his day.

?A little bit,? Eaton said, smiling.

O?Brien was more direct.

?I would describe it as one of the best first days I?ve ever seen,? he said.

Fittingly, the sport was celebrating the decathlon?s first appearance in the Olympics in 1912. The winner of the first gold was Jim Thorpe. His sons, along with the six American Olympic gold medalists in the event, were honored at the opening of the U.S. track trials at Hayward Field.

?I walk a lap here at Hayward Field, and it brings tears to my eyes,? said O?Brien, who won gold in 1996. ?I get very nostalgic.?

O?Brien still holds the American record in the decathlon, scoring 8,891 points in 1992. He said when he was younger he was more protective of the mark, but his feelings have changed.

?It?s about time. I want someone to score high,? he said. ?Records were meant to be broken.?

Eaton is the world record holder in the heptathlon, and was runner-up to Hardee at the 2011 world championships in South Korea. The Mountain View High graduate was a three-time NCAA decathlon champion while at Oregon.

Hardee said he fully expects something special for Eaton on Saturday.

?I think everybody?s anticipating the American record tomorrow,? Hardee said. ?So when it happens, we?ll all be there to cheer him on.?